Wire twisting and fusing machine



Get. 5, 1954 G. l.. wElsER ErAL WIRE TWISTING AND FUSING MACHINE Filed 0012. 29, 1949 8 Shee'ts-Sheet l 70 faz (kt. 5,'1954 G. L. wElsER ETAL WIRE TWISTING AND FUSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 29. 1949 0d 5, l954 G. L. wElsER ETAL 2,690,773

WIRE TWISTING AND FUSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29. 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 ffy 3W 0C@ 5 1954 G. L. wElsER ETAL 2,690,773

WIRE TWISTING AND FUSING MACHINE Filed on; 29. i949 a sheets-sheet 4 f/ 555555@ ff f Oct. 5, 1954 G. L. wElsER ETAL 2,590,773

WIRE TwIs'rING AND FUSING MACHINE Filed oct. 29, 1949 8 sheds-sheet 5 M mur/M WMM a- Oct., 5, 1954 G. L.. wElsl-:R ErAL 2,690,773

WIRE TwrsTING AND FUSING MACHINE Filed oct. 29, 194s s sheets-sheet e Oct. 5, 1954 G. l.. wElsER ETAL 2,690,773

WIRE TwIsTING AND FUsING MACHINE Filed oct. 29, 194s e sheets-sheet 7 Patented Get. 5, 1954 WIRE TWISTING AND FUSING MACHINE George L. Weiser and Willard C. Shaw, Anderson, Ind., assigner-s to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 29, 1949, Serial Ne. 124,296

(Cl. D10-2) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of connecting lead wires of electrical coils which are assembled in pairs before being assembled with apparatus of which the coils are a part. Such coils may be, for example, the field coils of a generator.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for twisting together lead wires extending from two electric coils, for fusing the twisted leads, and for bending the fused leads so that they are out of the way of subsequent handling of the coil assembly. To accomplish this object, the machine includes a continuously moving conveyor which moves coil holders arranged in pairs and which moves lead wire holders each located intermediate a pair of coil holders, a carriage which supports a lead twister, a lead fuser, and a lead bender which are spaced according to the spacing of the lead wire holders and means for causing the conveyor to move the carriage with it for a certain distance, for example, about onehalf the spacing of lead wire holders. When the carriage is in starting position, three lead wire holders are simultaneously located respectively adjacent to the twister, the fuser and the bender. During movement of the carriage with the conveyor, leads in the holder adjacent the twister are twisted and leads in the holder adjacent the fuser are fused and leads in the holder adjacent the bender move with the bender. After the carriage has moved with the conveyor said certain distance, it is released automatically and returns to starting position while the conveyor continues to move ahead and bring untwisted leads to the twister, previous twisted leads to the fuser and previously fused leads to the bender, while the previously bent fused leads move toward a place where the coil assembly is unloaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide for cutting off excess wire of the unjoined leads of the coils. To accomplish this, the machine provides other lead wire holders moved by the conveyor and each providing a shear blade which is automatically advanced to cut the lead wire as the conveyor moves.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the ma* chine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and -6 yare sectional views taken, respectively, on lines 4 4, 5 5 and 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is la fragmentary, plan view of the ma chine and is drawn to a much larger scale than the preceding views.

Fig. 7A is a View of a cam 2l!!! looking in the direction of arrow 7A of Fig. "1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 3-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig.' 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view on line Q-9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a plan View of one of the holders for supporting the lead wires to be twisted.

Fig. 11 is a view in the direction of arrow il of Fig. 10 with a fragment of dial 5| in section.

Fig. 12 is a View in the direction of arrow I2 of part S3 shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a view in the direction of arrow I3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13A is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing part 56 in other positions.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a holder which receives lead wires to be out in order to remove excess wire.

Fig. 15 is a view in the direction of arrow l5 of Fig. 14 with a fragment of dial 5l in section.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line 46-516 of Fig.14.

Fig. 17 is a view in the direction of arrow l1 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a view in the direction of arrow I8 or" Fig. 1 and shows, on a larger scale, the wire fusing burner and its support.

Fig. 19 is a view in the direction of arrow l5 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 2O is an enlargement of that portion of Fig. l within `the circle 20.

Fig. 21 is a View in the direction of arrow 2l of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a view in the direction of arrow 22 of Fig. 2l.

Fig. 23 is a View in the direction of arrow 23 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 24 is an enlargement of a fragment of Fig. 3.

Figure 25 is a wiring diagram of electrical controls of the machine.

Figs. 26 through 28 are three fragmentary diagrammatic views showing progressively, operations on a pair of coil leads wherein Fig. 26 shows the leads at the twisting position; Fig. 27 shows the same leads progressed to a fusing position; and, Fig. 28 shows the same leads progressed to the bending position.

Referring to Figs. 1 Vto 3, a base plate 3l) secured to the `floor supports a pedestal 3l having a shoulder 32 from which there extends a reduced portion 33, which extends through the bottom wall 34 of a gear case 35 and which is attached to a bushing 36 supporting a fixed plate 31. As shown also in Fig. 9, wall 34 supports thrust ball bearing 38 which in turn supports a washer 39 supporting the hub 46 of a worm gear 4| meshing with a worm 42 attached to a shaft 43 journaled in ball bearings provided by bearing housings 44 attached to the case 35. Shaft 43 is connected with a sprocket 45 (Fig. 3) connected by chain 46 with a sprocket 41 connected by a torque-limiting clutch 48 with a shaft 49 driven by an electric motor 50 through a speed reducing mechanism.

The hub 40 of gear 4| is connected with a circular plate or dial spaced from bushing 36 by a washer 52 and spaced from the case 35 by a plate 53 connected with a conveyor or dial 5I, said plate 53 being supported upon bearing members 53a attached to the upper edges of the side walls of the case 35.

A plurality of plates 55 (Fig. 7) are attached to the upper side of dial 5| near the periphery thereof. Each plate 55 receives two screws 55a passing through slots 51 in plates 56 which provide for the location of a pair of coils C I and C2 whose adjacent lead wires LI and L2 are to be twisted together and fused and whose other lead wires L3 and L4 are to be cut. As shown, the leads LI and L2 are located upon a holder LT where the leads are twisted together. Leads L3 and L4 are located upon holders LC where these leads are to be cut to the proper length.

Referring to Figs. -13A showing details of holder LT, this holder comprises a bracket 60 attached to the underside of dial 5I and supports a rod 6| (Fig. 9) attached to bracket 60 by pin 62. The rod '6I supports for horizontal sliding movement a block 63 having a lug 64 adapted, when moved to the right in Fig. 9 to be received by a notch 65 in a plate 66 having counterbore slot 61 receiving the head of a screw 68 threaded into a tapped hole 69 (Fig. 12) in block 63. When plate 66 is in functioning position, it is supported by a rail 10 (Figs. 5 and 7) or by a plate 80 extending therefrom. When not thus supported, plate 66 drops to the position 66a (Fig. 13A) so as to be out of the way for the operation of fusing the twisted wires. Counterclockwise movement of dial 5| carries the plate 66 to the left end of rail 10 which tilts the plate 66 as indicated at 66h (Fig. 13A) and causes its return to functioning position. Plate 66 has a groove 1| receiving a lug 12 of a bar 13 attached to block 63. While the block 63 is spaced from the plate 66, the lead wires L| and L2 of adjacent coils CI and C2 are pulled into the notch 65 of plate 66 and are bent respectively around a pin 14a and screw 14h attached to plate 66 which is then supported, as shown in Fig. 13, by the rail 10. Block 63 is urged away from plate 66 by a spring 15 (Fig. 9) attached to a stud 16 supported by dial 5I and to a washer 11 attached to block 63 by a stud 18 which carries a roller 19 which is received between the plates 80 and 8| supported by a plate 83 which supports rail 19. Plate 83 is attached to a bracket 84 (Fig. 9) attached to side walls of the case 35. Plate 8| is pivoted at 82 upon plate 83 and has a. hole 85 for receiving a smaller sized pin 86 attached to plate 83. Plate 8| is urged clockwise (Fig. 5) so that the left side of pin 86 is engaged by the surface defining the hole 85 by a spring 81 which surrounds a rod 88 (Fig. 7) attached to a clevis 89 having a cylindrical head 90 received4 by a recess in plate 3|. Rod 88 extends through a lug 9| attached to plate 83. As the dial rotates counterclockwise, each roller 19, associated with a Workholder LT, is caused to move radially outward (as from 19' to 'I9 in Fig. 5) so that 'the lug 64 will move into a notch 65 of plate 65 and thus retain the lead wires to be twisted while located within that notch.

Since the dial 5| is moving continuously, it is necessary that the lead twisting mechanism be caused to move with the work during a portion of its movement. For this purpose, the post 3| (Fig. 2) provides a collar 92 which supports a thrust ball bearing 96 which supports a hub 94 having bearing bushings journaled on the post 3|. Hub 94 supports a plate 96 braced to the hub by bars 91. Plate 9B supports spacers S8 (Fig. 9) which support a plate 99 which supports a frame |60 and an intermediate plate IGI providing a cover enclosing gears |02 and |03 connected, respectively, with shafts |04 and |05 journaled in bearings provided by the frame |00 and plate IOI. Shaft |04 is connected with a sprocket |06 adapted to mesh with an arcuate rack provided by a strip of sprocket chain |01 which, as shown in Fig. 6, is attached to ears |68 provided by a plate |09 (Fig. 9) attached to plate 86 and spaced therefrom by plate H0.

Plate 5| carries pins I I (Fig. 9) equal in number to the number of holders LT. Each pin engages one of four arms |I2a, H219, ||2c, IIZd (Fig. 4) radiating from and attached to a shaft I|3 (Fig. 9) journaled in bearings IIll fixed to a post II5 attached to plate 66. Shaft |I3 is retained by a screw |3a passing through a washer I |3b and plate 96. As the pin I I moves counterclockwise, it urges an arm such as I I2@ which engages it in a clockwise direction about the axis of shaft II3, but such movement cannot take place then because there is another arm II2b which engages a plate II6 which is attached to the Xed plate 83. Therefore the plate 99, attached to plate 96, moves with the dial 5| until the arm marked I|2b clears the plate H5 and then plate 96 is released from the dial 5! and is caused to return to starting position by means to be described. During return movement of plate S6, pin II I turns arms I I2a clockwise sufciently to free it from pin I I I, arm |25, by virtue of engagement with plate I I6, moves into the position formerly occupied by arm II2a and arm II 2c moves into the position formerly occupied by arm I I2b and arm I |2d into the position formerly occupied by arm I2C. The plate 96, on being freed from connection with dial 5 I is returned to starting position through the action of a spring |I1 located within a dash-pot cylinder I I8 attached to the fixed plate 83 and urging downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 4, a piston I I9 connected by a rod |20 and a link |2| with a plate |22 attached to plate 99. Plate 96 stops in normal position by engagement of arm I|2b, then in the position formerly occupied by arm I I2a with the plate I I6 which then receives arm ||2c then in the position formerly occupied by arm |212.

During movement of plate 99 with the dial 5! sprocket |06 (Fig. 9) rolls on the chain |01 and effects rotation of shafts |04 and |05. Shaft |05 rotates a gear |25 meshing with a gear |26 having a longitudinal spline connection with a shaft |21 journaled in bearings provided by the frame |06 and connected with a twister |28 having a serrated annular flange |29 which, when moved toward the left, engages those portions of wires which are in front of the plate 66 and bent around pin Ma and screw 'Mb and which causes these wires to be twisted together at the time when block 53 is. being moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 9. During twisting, the lug 55 of block 55 confines the lead wires within the notch 55 of plate 56 and right movement of the block 53 pushes the wires toward the twister |23. The lead twisting operation causes the lead wires Li and L2 to be pulled from pin 'Ma and screw 75crespectively (Fig. 13).

Twister is caused to move left (Fig. 9) by a mechanism which includes a fluid pressure cylinder attached to plate 99 and receiving a piston 55| connected by a rod |52, .a clevis |33 and a link |32 with a lever |35 pivoted at |35 on frame and having arms |32 connected to a disc its located between thrust bearings surrounding the reduced portion |210. of shaft I2'l1 and located between washers IM, all of these parts being retained by a nut |52 threadedly connected with the reduced portion |.2a of shaft i2?. The pressure which the twister |28 applied to the wires is made yielding by virtue of a spring |122 received by the link |35 and urging to the right a pin i-l bearing against the lever |35 and forcing a pin |25 attached to said lever toward the right end of slots |45 provided by the forked end of link |55. Pressure uid is caused to flow into the left end of cylinder |38 in order to cause right movement of piston |32 and left movement of shaft i2? just as movement of plate 95 and the twister I 22 with the dial 5I begins. Therefore the twisting operation is performed while the twister supporting carriage provided by plates 95 and Si! moves a distance equal to about onehali the angular spacing of the lead wire holders LT, for example, about 15. Then, at the end of this movement, pressure fluid is admitted to the right end of cylinder |38 so as to retract the twister so that it will be released from engagement with the wires during return of plate 99 by the spring lil in the dash-pot cylinder I I8 (Fig. fr).

After the twisting operation, block 63 is retracted and plate 55 moves away from plate 85 and drops to position @Se (Fig. 13A). The dial carries the workhclders LT successively tov/ard a hot flame issuing from a burner pipe (Fig. 1) which, as shown in Fig. 18, extends from a iitting 95| having pipes |52 and |53 connected, respectively, with sources of oxygen and acetylene not shown. Fitting |5| is clamped by a screw |54 between plates and I5Iz` supported by a clamp Iiil1 which a screw |58 secures to a post |55 in a desired position of vertical adjustment. Post E55 is attached to a bracket |65 supported by the carriage plate 55. The burner pipe |50 moves with the twister while moving with the dial 5I counterclockwise. When a workholder LT has arrived at a position in alignment with abracket I'e'hi fixed to plate 3l and supporting a heat resisting baiile plate H5, by means to be described, gas burning at the end of pipe |50 produces heat sufficient to fuse the twisted Wires while the burner moves with them counterclockwise for about 15.

The fusion of the wires results in a bead which projects outwardly. In order that this bead be bent downwardly, it is caused to be forced against a roller |85 (Figs. 1 and 20) supported by a bracket ist attached to plate 99. In order to effect movement of the work toward the roller I 85, the block 53 (Fig. 9) is caused to move outwardly again due to engagement of roller I9 with a lever |82 (Fig. 20) pivoted on a screw |83 supported by a bracket I 84 attached to plate 99. A spring |85 confined between a bracket |88 attached to bracket |85 and lever |82 urges said lever clockwise until the lever engages a pin |81 extending from bracket |85 into a hole |88 provided by the lever.

Each of the lead wire holders LC (Figs. 14-17) comprises a bracket I attached to the dial 5I and providing a notch I9! which receives a lever |52 pivoted on a pin I 93 supported by the bracket 55. A spring |94 urges a plunger |55 to the right (Fig. 1G) to maintain the lever |92 normally in the position shown. Lever |92 has arms |95, each of which has a notch I5? which receives one of the lead wires L3 and L5 as shown in Fig. 17, said wires being bent around a rod |95 extending from the lever 52. The arms |55 cooperate as shear blades with shearing edges |99 provided by the bracket I'. As the dial 5I moves counterclockwise, the rods E28 successively engage a cam 2&0 which effects counterclockwise movement of the levers 92 (as viewed in Figs. 15 and 16) thereby cutting oil the excess wire extending from the shearing edges |99.

The dial 5I carries a plurality of cams 29| (Figs. 7 and 8) which successively engage plungers 252 (Figs. l and 2) guided for vertical movement by bushings 253 xed to plate 3l. The plungers 202 are connected by a rod 266i with tape dispensing mechanisms not shown which are mounted upon the plate 3l'. The tape dispensing mechanisms are the subject matter of copending application of E. R. Fausset and W. C. Shaw, Serial No. 125,242, filed March 9, 1949.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 24, a bracket 2|@ attached to collar 92 supports a normally closed switch SWIS and a normally open switch SWS having actuators la and 5a engageable respectively by adjustable screws 2 l5 and 2 l 5 supported by a bracket ZIB attached to hub 55 which supports plates 95 and 9S. Since these plates rotate with the dial 5I counterclockwise, motion of bracket 2 I3 in a forward direction is indicated by arrow F in Fig. 24, and in the return direction by arrow R. When the hub 94 is in normal position as shown in Fig. 5, screw 2 it engages actuator la of switch SW to cause it to open. Switch SW5, which is normally open, is closed by Inovement of its actuator 5a, by screw 2I5 at the end of forward movement of bracket EIS.

Switches SWil and SWE are part of an electrical system shown in Fig. 25. By closing switch SW I, 3 phase electrical supply wires I I, I 2, I3 are connected with one side of a relay switch RE! which connects this supply with motor 50 by energization or the coil Zit which eiects right move-s ment of an armature 2i? against the action of a spring EIS to move contacts 22|, 222, 223 and 224 into circuit closing position. By closing push switch PBI, coil 2%@ receives current from the secondary winding 225 of a ltransformer Ti whose primary winding 225 is connected with wires i2 and I3 when switch SWI is closed. Switch PBI is by-passed by contact 222 when closed. Coil 2|B, being in series with secondary coil 225 and thermal overload switches SW2 and SW3 and push switch PBZ, is open circuited in response to motor overload or to manual opening of switch FB2.

A Valve 235 controls the connection of pipe 23| connected with a fluid pressure source either with pipe 232 or with pipe 233 connected with the ends of cylinder |35. Valve 23s has a movable member 25d connected with a rod 235 which extends through a spring 235 and a hole in a lixed plate 231 and is connected with a solenoid armature 238 moved in one direction by a solenoid 239. when energized, and in the opposite direction by the spring 236. As shown, the spring 239 has moved the armature 238 against plate 231 and the member 234 into position causing pressure fluid to flow into the right end of cylinder |30 to effect retraction of the twister.

A relay REZ has a magnet coil 240, normally open contacts 24| and normally closed contacts 242. When carriage plates 96 and 99 begin moving counterclockwise with the dial 5| (Fig. I) screw 2 I4 moves away from actuator la of switch SW4 and switch SW@ closes and solenoid 239 receives current from transformer secondary coil 225 through switch SW4 and contacts 292 of relay RE. Valve member 230 moves to connect the left end of cylinder |30 with pipe 23| and the right end with a vent so that the twister is advanced to the crossed lead wires on a holder LT. At the end of counterclockwise movement of plates 96 and 99, switch SWE is closed by engagement of screw 2|5 with actuator 5a. Relay coil 240 is energized and contacts 24| engage and contacts 242 disengage. The solenoid 239 is deenergized and the valve member is returned by action of spring 236, in order to effect return of the twister to non-functioning position. Contacts 24|, which by-pass switch SWE, provide when closed a current path for coil 249 which remains energized while plates 90 and 99 are returning clockwise to starting position. At the end of return movement, coil 240 is open-circuited by the opening of switch SW and contacts 24| separate and contacts 242 engage preparatory to the next cycle.

The machine operates during a cycle of movement of carriage plate 99 upon the leads of three pairs of coils. While leads in the holder LT aligned with the twister when in starting position shown in Fig. l, twisted leads are in the holder LT ahead of the first mentioned holder in counterclockwise direction of rotation of the conveyor dial 5| and the twisted leads are located at the burner pipe 50, and fused leads are in the holder LT ahead of the second mentioned holder which then has located the fused leads such that they have been bent by the disc |80. Twisting and fusing occurs concurrently as the twister and fuser move with the dial. Since the bender disc |80 moves also with the dial, the bent, fused leads move with disc |80 counterclockwise until carriage plate 99 is released and returns clockwise to starting position. While the plate 99 is moving clockwise, the dial is moving counterclockwise to bring the leads to the twisting, fusing and bending devices preparatory to their counterclockwise movement with the dial. As the leads which have been fused move counterclockwise with the dial, the bending device is moving clockwise to meet the fused leads; and, at the end of clockwise movement of the bending devices, the roller will have received and bent the fused leads.

Figs. 26 through 28 show diagrammatically the sequence of operations performed on a single pair of leads from two coils. In Fig. 26, the leads, from a pair of coils CI and C2, are shown in position within a lead holder LT just after the leads have been twisted by the twisting device |29. This is accomplished by the twister |20 moving in toward the leads, grasping the leads and twisting them as it is retracted as shown in Fig. 26. During this operation, conveyor dial is moving continuously in a counterclockwise position and the carriage plate 99, which carries the twister |28, fuser |50 and bending disc |80, is moving concurrently with the dial 5| in the same direction. As the carriage plate approaches a degree of movement equal to the spacing between various lead holders LT, it is released from connection with the dial, and moves clockwise relative to the dial which continues to move in its same counterclockwise direction until the twister |28 is in position adjacent a second pair of leads from coils C3 and C4 at lead holder LT'. When this position of the carriage plate 99 is obtained, the twisted leads of coils C| and C2 are adjacent the fuser |50 and again the entire carriage plate 99, with its equipment, moves concurrently with the dial 5| through an angle of movement approximating but slightly less than the distance between the lead holders. During this movement the twister |28 twists the leads at station LT and the fuser |50 fuses the leads at the holder LT. At this point, the carriage plate 99 is disengaged from the dial 5| and again moves clockwise to a position wherein the twister is adjacent a pair of leads in holder LT. In this position, the twister |28 twists the leads at LT", the fuser |50 fuses the twisted leads at holder LT' and the bending disc is in a position to bend the leads at holder LT when the carriage plate 99 is released to move rearwardly to pick up its next position adjacent another lead holder.

Thus it is apparent that the carriage plate, with its equipment, moves approximately 30 counterclockwise with the dial and then is retracted in a clockwise position to pick up another set of leads. The concurrent movement with the dial in each instance is of such length to accomplish the twisting and fusing operation on leads at adjacent lead holders. This provides a step-by-step operation with respect to the carriage plate wherein at each movement of the carriage plate, three sets of leads have each been caused to pass through one operation wherein each successive operation is advanced one from the preceding step whereby a pair of leads are twisted, fused and bent upon three successive retractions of the carriage plate 99 and wherein another set of leads have been twisted and fused while a third set of leads have merely been twisted. In this manner, the carriage plate reciprocates within approximately a 30 arc, performing operations simultaneously on three sets of leads while the conveyor dial 5| moves continuously at a given rate in a counterclockwise direction.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a machine for connecting lead wire of a pair of electrical coils, the combination comprising a conveyor, means for continuously moving the conveyor, a. plurality of pairs of equally spaced coil holders mounted on the conveyor, each pair for receiving a pair of coils having lead wires to be joined, a plurality of lead wire holders mounted on the conveyor each associated with a pair of coil holders and each having means for retaining in cross relation lead wires of a pair of coils to be electrically connected, a carriage connected for vmovement with the conveyor and holders. means for causing the carriage to move with the conveyor from a certain starting position, means for automatically releasing the carriage from the conveyor after the carriage has moved with the conveyor a distance less than the spacing of the lead wire holders, means for returning the carriage to said starting position while the conveyor moves ahead, a lead twister supported by the carriage in a position adjacent to a lead holder retaining untwisted leads when the carriage begins movement with the conveyor, and means for causing operation of the twister to twist the leads retained by said lead holder only in response to movement of the carriage with the conveyor'.

2. The combination according to claim l further characterized by a lead twister which` ncludes a rotary and axially movable member providing a notched annular flange, means for advancing the member into engagement with the lead wires preparatory to twisting them and for retracting the member after twisting, control apparatus for the last named means rendered operative to eiect advancement of the member after the start of movement of the carriage with the conveyor and to effect retraction of the member upon completion of movement of the carriage with the conveyor and means for causing rotation of the member in response to movement of the carriage.

3. The combination according to claim l further characterized by a lead wire holder providing a plate having a notch which receives the lead wires which are crossed at the notch, providing a block which urges the leads toward the back of the plate and which has a lug which closes the notch to coniine the lead wires therein, means for advancing the block toward the plate during movement or the carriage with the conveyor, means for retracting the' block after completion of movement of the carriage with the conveyor, and further characterized by a lead twister which is advanced toward the front of the plate and into engagement with the leads preparatory to the twisting operation.

4. rihe combination according to claim 1 further characterized by a lead wire holder providing a plate having a notch which receives the lead wires which are crossed at the notch, providing a block which urges the leads toward the back of the plate and which has a lug which closes the notch to corinne the lead wires therein, a cam follower connected to the block, a relatively iixed cam engaged by the cam follower during movement of the carriage with the conveyor to cause the block to move toward the plate, a spring urging the cam into functioning position whereby the block is urged against the lead wires with yielding pressure, and further characterized by means for advancing the twister toward the front of the plate and into engagement with the lead wires with yielding pressure preparatory to the twisting operation.

5. In a machine for connecting lead wires of pairs of electrical coils, the combination including a conveyor, means for continuously moving the conveyor, a plurality of equally spaced coil holders mounted on the conveyor, each adapted to receive a coil, lead wire holders mounted on the conveyor and each located for reception of lead wires of coils on two adjacent coil holders, and each having means for supporting in crossed relation, the lead wires of a pair of coils to be electrically connected, a rotatable and axially movable lead wire twister adjacent the conveyor and the lead wire holder supporting crossed lead wires, means effective, after the conveyor has thus located the lead wire holder, for causing the twister to move bodily with the conveyor a distance less than the spacing of the several lead wire holders, means for returning the twister to starting position following said movement with the conveyor, means for causing the twister to advance into engagement with the crossed lead wires during the rst part of movement of the twister with the conveyor and to retract at the end of said movement, and means for causing rotation of the twister.

6. In a machine for connecting lead wires of pairs of electrical coils, the combination including a conveyor dial, means for continuously ro tating the dial, a plurality of equally spaced coil holders mounted on the dial, each adapted to receive a coil, a plurality of equally spaced lead wire holders mounted on the dial and each located between a pair of coil holders for reception of lead wires of coils on adjacent coil holders and each having means for supporting, in crossed relation, the lead wires of a pair of coils to be electrically connected, a carriage plate mounted for rotation coaxially of the dial, a lead wire twister supported by the plate for rotation on an axis extending radially of the axis of the plate and for axial movement in a radial direction toward and from the dial, spring means for yieldingly maintaining the plate in certain starting position, a mechanism which is effective, when the dial has brought a lead wire holder adjacent t0 the twister, for causing the carriage plate to rotate with the dial an angular distance less than the angular spacing ofthe lead wire holders, said mechanism being adapted to release the carriage plate from the dial whereby the spring means returns the plate to said starting position, means for causing the twister to advance axially to the crossed lead wires during the rst part of movement of the carriage plate with the conveyor and to retract at the end of said movement, and means for causing rotation of the twister in response to movement of the carriage plate with the conveyor.

7. In a machine for connecting lead wires of electrical coils, the combination including a conveyor, means for continuously moving the conveyor, a plurality of equally spaced coil holders mounted on the conveyor', each adapted to receive a coil, a plurality of equally spaced lead wire holders mounted on the conveyor and each located for reception of lead wires of coils on two adjacent coil holders, and each having means for supporting in crossed relation, the lead wires of a pair of coils to be electrically connected, a lead wire twister, to which the conveyor brings the lead wire holder supporting crossed lead wires, a carriage supporting the twister and sup-ported for movement with the conveyor, a mechanism for transmitting motion from the conveyor to the carriage for a certain distance of conveyor movement then releasing the carriage from connection with the conveyor, said mechanism comprising a plural-arm element rotatably supported by the carriage, abutments carried by the conveyor and successively engageable with an arm or" said element, and a xed plate engaged by another arm of said element to prevent rotation thereof until after said other arm has been moved by the conveyor past the fixed plate, and means for returning the carriage to its starting position to cause the element to return to normal position relative to the xed plate.

8. A machine for sequentially twisting, fusing and bending lead wires of a plurality of pairs of electrical coils, comprising in combination; a conveyor, means for continuously moving the conveyor in one direction, a plurality of pairs of coil holders moved by the conveyor, each pair of holders being adapted to receive a pair of coils having lead wires to be joined, a plurality of lead wire holders moved by the conveyor, one of which is associated with each pair of coil holders, a tool carriage associated with the conveyor and movable therewith in said one direction from a starting position tc a position approximating but less than the distance between said holders and then retractable in the opposite direction to said starting position, while said conveyor continues to move in said one direction, said tool carriage, while moving with said conveyor, being disposed adjacent three lead wire holders, a twisting mechanism carried by the tool carriage, a fusing device carried by the tool carriage and a bending device carried by the tool carriage, said twisting mechanism and fusing device being simultaneously operable during carriage movement with the conveyor for twisting a pair of leads at one lead holder and for fusing a pair of leads at the next adjacent lead holder and said bending device being operable upon retraction of the carriage for bending the leads at a third holder whereby upon each retraction of the tool holder, one completed twisted, fused and bent pair of lead wires are discharged from the carriage and a new pair of lead wires are brought into alignnient with the carriage.

9. A machine for sequentially performing a plurality of functions upon pairs of lead wires to be formed from a plurality of pairs of electrical coils, comprising in combination; a conveyor continuously movable in one direction and coil holders on said conveyor for holding coils and having lead holders interposed between said coil holders for holding pairs of leads to be operated upon, a tool carriage movable with said conveyor through a distance less than the distance between the lead holders and retractable a similar distance in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said conveyor during continued movement of said conveyor, a plurality of tools for performing functions on the pairs of coil leads carried by said conveyor and simultaneously operable when the carriage is moved concurrently with the conveyor for performing separate functions upon a plurality of pairs of leads, and another tool for performing another function upon retraction of said carriage, said tools being simultaneously movable during retraction of the carriage so that said same operations are performed on different pairs of leads whereby the conveyor moves continuously and the carriage performs a step-bystep movement in a predetermined range for performing a plurality of functions upon pairs of leads passing thereby.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,071,121 Weber Aug. 26, 1913 1,288,402 Gale Dec. 17, 1918 1,913,904 Segur June 13, 1933 1,920,630 Conn Aug. 1, 1933 2,028,225 Larson Jan. 21, 1936 2,093,173 Olson Sept. 14, 1937 2,244,554 Hannaford June 3, 1941 2,416,672 Archer Mar. 4, 1947 2,443,564 Kunkle et al. June 15, 1948 2,492,228 Lee et al. Dec. 27, 1949 

